Motif

Author: Emily Olson

  • The Summit Music Festival Returns to Lippitt Park

    The Summit Music Festival Returns to Lippitt Park

    redOn Saturday, August 23, from 1 – 6pm, the Summit Music Festival will turn Lippitt Park, that haven for toddlers, farmers marketers, and frisbee throwers, into a huge neighborhood party. And if a beer and wine garden by Trinity Brewhouse, activities for the kids, food trucks, and craft vendors aren’t enough to bring you out, the world-class line-up of musicians should do it. Performing at the event will be pianist Johnny Lingo, 16-year-old singer/songwriter Emeline Easton, Dr. Jones & the Shiners, which features members of The Sugar Honey Iced Tea and The Mighty Good Boys, Smith & Weeden, Selwyn Birthwood Band, and Brooklyn’s Red Baraat. Dean Weinberg, who organizes the festival every year, is excited about all of the performers, but is particularly excited about Red Baraat. “Red Baraat is off the charts awesome,” Weinberg said. “This is the first time they’ve played here since the FirstWorks Festival that happened in Kennedy Plaza a few years back. It’s going to be a huge dance party.”

    The Summit Music Festival was first put on five years ago by the Summit Neighborhood Association after they received a grant from the city’s department of arts, culture and tourism. The festival was funded by this grant for three years, but the association didn’t receive the grant for the fourth year. Determined to make the festival work, Weinberg called the department of arts, culture and tourism and proposed a solution. If the city granted use of the stage and park, the neighborhood association would fund the festival with donations from local businesses. The city agreed and Weinberg put his plan into action. “We raised nearly three times the grant amount and that festival was our best ever.” The city and the Summit Neighborhood Association made the same agreement this year, making this truly a neighborhood party.

    “I think that this model is a good example of how government grant programs should work,” said Weinberg. “The city got us started, and once we had some traction, they gave the money to others in need.” By providing the stage and park and easing the permitting process, both the city and the neighborhood win. “The goal is to have great free programming for the community, and the city allows us to provide our little share of that.”

    With the scope of the Summit Music Festival, attendees might find it hard to believe that it’s a one-man production. When asked about plans for next year, Weinberg said, “Putting on a festival of this size is a lot of work.” And he’s ready to pass the torch. “This could be the festival’s last year.”

    The Summit Music Festival is a can’t-miss party; this year especially with its future in question. So if you’re looking for something to do on Saturday, follow the sound of the music to Lippitt Park.

    The Summit Music Festival takes place on August 23 from 1 – 6pm at Lippitt Park on the corner of Hope Street and Blackstone Boulevard. Admission is free.

     

  • Strange Happenings at the 48 Hour Film Project

    Strange Happenings at the 48 Hour Film Project

    48Motif recently sat down with the audience choice award winners from Providence’s 48 Hour Film Project and asked them one question: What was the strangest thing that happened during competition weekend? These were their responses.

    Mark Allison

    танец

    For our film, we used a couple of friends of ours who are Russian. We thought it would be cool to have them speak some Russian in the film, maybe use some subtitles, thinking it would make our film stand out because of it. Now we decided on this before we got our genre and the other elements at the kickoff. We figured that we could write that into the story no matter what.

    So we ended up getting sci-fi, made them crazy Russian scientists, and it couldn’t have worked out better. We wrote the story Friday, filmed on Saturday, and edited all day Sunday. We never came up with a title the whole weekend. We had Alien IV on the slate for the whole shoot. So it didn’t dawn on us till Sunday afternoon that we still needed a title. Well, at this point we were deep into editing, half asleep, and with only three of us left for the edit we had to think of something quick. We thought it would be cool to make it Russian. In the film, there are a couple instances when the Russian girls refer to making things/people dance, so we thought, “Perfect! Let’s look up the word dance in Russian on Google translate.” That came up as танец.

    So we thought that looked awesome and made it the title. We raced to finish up odds and ends in the edit, and I headed over to the drop off just before the finish time, 7:30pm. We were so worried about making sure the film was all set, and our paperwork was complete that it didn’t dawn on me until I handed in the paperwork and the lovely lady at the table asked me what the name of our film was that I didn’t even know how to say it.

    I thought for a moment, and said “Uhm…I don’t know.” She laughed, because she thought I was joking, and then realized that I wasn’t kidding. She looked at the envelope to read the title and said, “What does that say?”

    “I honestly have no idea,” was my response. “It’s in Russian.”

    She looked at me with a thousand yard stare for a moment and then said, “Ok then, you’re all set.”

    So when I told one of the Russian girls from our film the next day, and asked her how to say it, she told me it’s pronounced, “Tan-yets.” Well now I know, but I felt pretty dumb handing in a film with a title I couldn’t pronounce.

    Wro Stephens

    Deviled Egg

    I guess the funniest thing was that we were on the roof filming the Stalin/Satan scene and the security guard of the building (who was the coolest person ever) said that there are hawks nests out here and they can be very protective and attack. We were all laughing but also a bit nervous. We didn’t see any hawks but we heard a couple.

    Mike Scafati

    Baking Good

    We had five dozen cupcakes — a key prop for our story. Over the course of a (hot) day our cupcakes were dropped, melted, stepped on, and man-handled, yet our kids, the stars of the film, kept asking if they could eat them. We said no.

    Catch these audience favorites and the recently announced judge’s favorites at the 48 Hour Film Project Best Of screening on Saturday, August 9 from 7 to 10pm at Aurora Providence, 276 Westminster Street. Strange things are sure to happen! 

     

  • Cosmic Capsule: The Candidates – In Zodiacal Order

    Gina Raimondo
    Gina Raimondo is a Taurus with Saturn conjunct her Sun. The range of motion for the Moon puts it in Aquarius at a 90 degree angle to her Sun/Saturn conjunction. A square is not an easy aspect; her inner (Moon) is sometimes at odds with her outer (Sun). Mercury, ruler over how we think and process information, is in Taurus.  Her Mars, the action planet, is in Aquarius. Her Venus, the planet of desire, what we want, is in Aries. In Aries, she wants to be first. She also has a Jupiter/Neptune conjunction in early Sagittarius, which puts them in opposition to her Taurus Sun/Saturn. Uranus, the great inventor, is in an aspect of ease to her Mars in humanitarian Aquarius. Pluto, the power broker, in Virgo supports her Sun/Saturn conjunction.

    Her Sun/Saturn conjunction combined with Moon on one end and Pluto on the other gives her drive and discipline. The overall signature of her horoscope is one of fixed/earth/air, which reinforces the drive and discipline bringing a steadfastness and ability to bring things to completion. Taurus doesn’t quit. With all that earth and air she is practical and logical. But she has this Jupiter/Neptune conjunction that is all about faith, vision and things that go bump in the night. Her Mars and Moon in Aquarius points to an individualist perfectly suited to toppling the old to build something new and more egalitarian. She is all in her head and in her physical surroundings and needs to see concrete results. With no planets in water signs, she lacks empathy forging ahead with what she sees as practical and logical. Be that as it may, with Moon in Aquarius her action is angled toward the greater good, but it will be in her own individualistic way. Moon and Mars in Aquarius indicates a detachment from the emotional component.

    Angel Tavaras
    Angel Tavaras is a Leo with Mars conjunct his Leo Sun in a stressful square with Saturn in Taurus and Neptune in Scorpio. Moon in Pisces softens the Sun/Mars combination in Leo. His Mercury, how he thinks and processes information, is strong in Virgo conjunct Pluto in Virgo and in a nice easy trine, 120 degrees, to Saturn in Taurus. His thinking is logical and precise. Lovely Venus in Libra is conjunct Uranus, which indicates some creativity when it comes to negotiations. Solutions are derived from out of the box collaborations. Jupiter in Scorpio complements his Pisces Moon.

    His Sun/Mars conjunction in Leo squaring his Saturn/Neptune gives him drive, ambition and vision. Saturn brings practical realities to the table while that Neptune, ruler of his Pisces Moon, brings a dose of spirituality into the picture. This combination gives him the vision (Neptune) and the ability to dream the impossible dream, but this dreamer goes head-to-head with the harsh realities (Saturn) of the real world.  Neptune/Moon gives him sympathy for the underdog. The overall signature of his horoscope is one of fixed water. Leo, like all the fixed signs, will see things through to the end. The watery element gives him empathy and a certain amount of intuitiveness, but with Mercury in Virgo his thinking is logical and precise. Leos are natural leaders and when taking the high road, they are benevolent and generous.

    Todd Giroux
    Todd Giroux is a Virgo with a Gemini Moon. His Mercury, the ruler of his Sun and Moon, is right at home in Virgo. What this means is that the mercurial attributes of thinking, communicating and processing information are super strong in him. Throw in Pluto in Virgo conjunct that Mercury, and you have a person with a wide range of ideas not usually associated with detail-oriented Virgo. Although ranging far and wide, he never loses sight of those details. The sign on the horizon at the time of his birth is Taurus and very close to the horizon is the planet Saturn in Taurus. Virgos are born to serve and with the planet Saturn in this position, he has a very strong work ethic and the necessary discipline to accomplish the tasks before him. His Venus, in agreeable, charming Libra, provides the ability to work with others. His planetary signature is one of mutable earth. This means that he is very practical, logical, pragmatic and open to change. His Mars in Leo is primed and pumped for action and gives him the ability to see things through to the end.

    The juicy nugget in his horoscope is the Mercury/Pluto conjunction in Virgo in favorable contact with Saturn in Taurus. This gives him a much broader outlook then your typical Virgo. This, along with Jupiter in Scorpio connected to his Virgo Sun, allows him to step back and view the big picture after immersing himself in the details.

    Ken Block
    Ken Block is a Libra with Mercury, how he thinks and processes information, in Libra as well. His action planet, Mars, is conjunct his planet of desire, Venus, in Sagittarius. Born in the mid ’60s, he has the rare conjunction of Uranus and Pluto in Virgo wildly opposing his Saturn in Pisces. He carries the imprint of those turbulent times. He’s ready and able to shake up the status quo. The Venus/Mars conjunction insures that what he wants to do is what he does do; there’s no conflict between what he wishes to do and how he acts. The all-important Moon is difficult to pinpoint as it changed signs on the day he was born. It’s either late Aries or early Taurus. A Taurus Moon would make him more fixed and his “stuff” would make him feel comfortable. Aries Moon makes him more adventurous, impulsive and eager to start new projects.
    The Sun/Mercury combination in Libra indicates a person who is skilled at collaboration and reaching a consensus. Librans are great negotiators, interested in fairness, harmony and justice. The Venus/Mars combo in Sagittarius speaks of an adventurous person who is not afraid to take a chance and go out on a limb; after weighing all sides of the picture (Libra, Libra), of course. That Uranus/Pluto conjunction guarantees a think-outside-the-box mentality. The Saturn in Pisces provides vision with the ability to bring it to fruition on the physical plane.

    Clay Pell
    Don’t be fooled by the cherub face that Clay Pell presents to the world. Clay Pell is a Scorpio with his thinking and information processing Mercury in Scorpio as well. Scorpios have x-ray vision and are equipped with great “bullshit” sensors. With Mercury here, his thinking is incisive; he uses his mind like a scalpel slicing through information cutting away the deadwood. Scorpios are suspicious and tend to see the darker side of things, but with Moon in optimistic Leo, Clay Pell has an innate counter balance to all that negativity. Leo Moon loves the spotlight, Scorpio Sun does not. This is an ongoing balancing act for him, satisfying both impulses. Leo Moon is life affirming, proud, and wants to be appreciated. His Venus is suited up for business in Capricorn and is in a congenial relationship with Mars in Virgo and Mercury in Scorpio. Mars, the action planet, in Virgo gets things done and does not overlook the tiniest detail. The connection to Mercury gives him the ability to manifest ideas on the physical plane.

    A telling point in his horoscope is the cluster of planets — Saturn, Jupiter and Pluto — all in Libra. All this Libra promises a sense of fairness, balance and a willingness and ability to look at both sides of the picture — talents that no doubt served him well in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

    Allan Fung
    Allan Fung is a Pisces with a sweet Venus in Pisces as well. He’s sensitive and intuitive with a strong spiritual component to his personality. His information processor, Mercury is in forward-thinking Aquarius.  This is a very intellectual Mercury given to abstract ideas and analysis. His Moon is in Libra; he’s a social animal and likes to mingle with people in a congenial atmosphere. Into this rather passive mix of dreamy Pisces and harmonious Libra is his aggressive Mars in Aries mixing it up. This Mars is like a boxer in the ring, suited up, gloves on, ready to do battle. Mars in Aries needs to take action, to do something. And above all, Mars in Aries wants to be first. His Jupiter in Scorpio opposes Saturn in Taurus. What this means is that the principles of expansion and contraction are at odds with one another.

    With his Mercury in Aquarius in a friendly aspect with his Moon, what comes out of his mouth is usually what he feels, often with no filter. With Mars in Aries opposing that Moon, he is given to impulsive action.  Jupiter in Scorpio with a positive connection to his Pisces Sun brings a lot of emotion, intuition and faith. That Mercury in Aquarius guarantees that while others are still mulling over a new idea, he’s already processed that info and moved on to the next new idea. He’s a quick and agile thinker.

    The Cosmic Battle
    In comparing the horoscopes of the candidates, the battleground here on earth is reflected in the heavens. On the Democratic side it is the planets in the individual horoscopes positioned in the signs of Taurus, Leo and Scorpio that are in an adverse situation. Gina Raimondo’s Taurus Sun, Angel Tavaras’ Leo Sun and Clay Pell’s Scorpio Sun create what is called a T-square — a configuration comprised of two planets opposing with one squaring both. Todd Giroux has Mars in Leo right on top of it all. Mars here stirs things up and prods the others to action. These are aspects of stress and agitation. They’re raining on each other’s parade.

    On the Republican side, Allan Fung’s Moon in Libra opposite Mars in Aries sits on and opposes Ken Block’s Sun and Mercury. Cosmically, they’re in each other’s faces. Saturn, the planet of restriction and making sure you know what you’re talking about, has a big role in the interplay between these two horoscopes. Allan Fung’s Saturn sits on top of Ken Block’s Moon, pushing Block’s buttons. Ken Block’s Saturn, in turn, sits on Allan Fung’s Sun, making it real for the dreamy Pisces.

    Who Wins?
    Primary day begins with Moon in Pisces. Moon rules the public and public opinion. Pisces is not always clear and may be indecisive. Folks are sensitive and act on intuition rather than logic. Moon goes Void of Course at 3:09pm, meaning it makes its last aspect to another planet before moving into a new sign. Void of Course time is a time of uncertainty; unknown factors are at work. The Moon moves into Aries at 7:33pm and people want action and tend to act on impulse. This Aries Moon may give Gina Raimondo a late boost as it makes a nice aspect to her Jupiter/Neptune conjunction in Sagittarius. It will also spark up Ken Block’s Venus/Mars conjunction in Sagittarius. The Pisces Moon at the beginning of the day will be quite kind to Pisces Allan Fung. For Todd Giroux the Moon opposes his Virgo planets; the energy is working against him, but he will be ready feeling physically strong and able to overcome that.

    Mercury, which rules the vote and the voting process, is in Libra that day. Both Gina and Angel have Uranus in Libra and Mercury is in conjunction range. But Angel has Venus in Libra as well and Mercury is minutes away from an exact conjunction. Venus attracts and this would appear to give Angel an edge. Todd has Uranus in early Libra and the Luna energy activating that Uranus may bring a surprise ending to his day. This Mercury is favorable for Ken Block as it is moving toward his natal Sun. Allan Fung, with natal Mercury in Aquarius, connects positively with Mercury in the sky that day.

    But on September 9, Mars and Saturn, the two bad guys of the Zodiac, are in a wide conjunction in Scorpio. This conjunction squares the Leo and Taurus planets in the horoscopes of Gina Raimondo, Angel Tavaras, and Todd Giroux and conjuncts Clay’s Scorpio Sun. This is not happy news — tough going on all sides. Saturn on this day is almost exactly conjunct Ken Block’s Neptune. Neptune is the planet of vision, lofty ideas and high ideals. Saturn is a brick wall and forces one to face harsh reality; on the upside itcan bring those lofty ideas to fruition.

    At best, elections are tough calls because the individual horoscopes are all activated by transiting planets in a major way, some beneficial, others not so helpful. There are six candidates, four Democrats and two Republicans and they all have a plan. And they all think that their plan is the best. Both Mercury and Venus are strong that day. Women we be a major factor in the results. This does not mean that a woman is going to win, but women will be out in force playing a big part in the results. Whatever the outcome, Rhode Islanders have a field of intelligent capable candidates to chose from with a lot of ideas floating around. This has created a lot of interest and an interested voter is a diligent voter. The winner needs to be aware that that vigilance will not fade come January.

  • Providence Roller Derby’s Hot Summer on the Flat Track

    Providence Roller Derby’s Hot Summer on the Flat Track

    Rhode Island’s Hottest Contact Sport

    The air is warmer and the kids are off from school: What is there to do? Take in a few bouts of the hard-hitting, fast-skating Providence Roller Derby, of course!

    riverratsHere’s a quick primer: Roller derby is a contact sport played on a flat track where players and the referees are on roller skates (not blades!). In this game, there is no ball to score points, just a human body. This human body is called a jammer and after getting past the other team on the track, the jammer scores points by passing each of her opponents again and again! However, the other team has a jammer who also is trying to score points. And each team also has three blockers and a pivot on the track who play offensive and defensive coordination against the opposing team. It’s wild! It’s fierce! It’s one of the fastest growing sports worldwide!

    In RI there are two seasons played: travel (national) and home seasons. PRD’s travel season is represented by the all-star team called the Rhode Island Riveters and supported by their B-teams of the Killah Bees and the Rocky Point Rollers. Home season spreads out the roster into three teams: the Mob Squad, the Old Money Honeys and the Sakonnet River Roller Rats.

    The Roller Rats, last year’s home season champions, are captained this year by Craisy Dukes! The mean team in green features Axe A. Dental, Cleo Patronize, Dark & Stormy, Freedom Fight-Her, Mary Slayne, Max Slayer Stone, Misfit Merida, PEZ DispensHER, Puma Thurman, Raquel Welts, Ruby Red Scissors, Sis Boom Bonnie, SmackGyver, Strawbury Shortskate, Trannie Oakley and Trophy Knife.
    The black and gold, gun-toting Mob Squad is led by their captain Freak’n Awesome. Going along for the ride are All The Way Mae, Baby Fighterfly, Beat-Trix LeStrangle, Boones Harm, Checker Pulse, Citizen Toxie, Death Ro-chelle, Elsie YaLater, Luce Cannon, Rose Creeper, Ruca A. Salt, Shotz of Petrone, Smashley Olsen, Sun Scream, Sweet Tease and Varla Gunz.

    Being fabulous in the red and black are the Old Money Honeys. Leading the pack is captain Cindy Lou Screw with her party of Breakbeat Betty, Delta Bravo, Hit and Run Paulene, Jetta von Diesel, Jigsaw, Malady D’Amour, Mortician Addams, Raggedy Ann-eurysm, Rhoda Perdition, Roxy ElbowYa, Sass E. McNasty, Scared Stiffany, Shelby Bruisin, Sinnamon Splice, Skate Middleton and Smoke ‘N Mirrors.

    When these athletes are off the track, they openly engage the public with some of the most fabulous celebrations. Meet and greet skaters and officials at this year’s RI PrideFest parade on June 21. An even larger gathering to celebrate PRD’s 10-year anniversary of athletes old and new will be held at The Spot Underground in Providence on Saturday, August 2, at 9pm ($5 cover at the door).

    So bring out family and friends for a night you’ll never forget!
    William H. Thayer Arena, Warwick; Saturday, June 28, 5pm; RI Riveters vs. Lehigh Valley Rollergirls, Rocky Point Rollers vs. Mass Attack Roller Derby All-Stars

    William H. Thayer Arena, Warwick; Saturday, July 19, 5pm
; Killah Bees vs. Hartford Area Roller Derby, Mob Squad vs. Sakonnet River Roller Rats (Home Season Opener!)

    Bank of America Skating Pavilion, Providence; Saturday, August 23, Time TBD; Old Money Honeys vs. Mob Squad

    Bank of America Skating Pavilion, Providence; Saturday, September 13, Time TBD; Sakonnet River Roller Rats vs. Old Money Honeys

    Also if you happen to be in the Philadelphia area between June 20 and 22, head over to the Sportsplex in Feasterville, Penn., for this year’s East Coast Derby Extravaganza. There the RI Riveters will face the Crime City Rollers and the Tiger Bay Brawlers!

    Tickets are available for all events at ProvidenceRollerDerby.com

  • Bicycle Repair Stands Unveiled Around Providence

    Bicycle Repair Stands Unveiled Around Providence

    bike

    Convenient Pit Stops for your Commute

    Imagine you’re biking to work or just out for fun, enjoying the sun on your arms and the wind through your hair. Maybe you’re even patting yourself on the back a bit for the good you’re doing your body and the environment. But suddenly, your bike just doesn’t feel right or even worse, you get a flat, making your breezy bike ride a whole lot of work. Now imagine a repair stand with all the tools you need to inflate a tire or adjust the bike beckoning from across the street. Sounds heavenly, right? It’s also the new reality in Providence.

    The City of Providence had a plan in the works to purchase and install some bike repair stands around the city. But when Dash Bicycles and Julian, of Julians fame, got wind of the plans, they worked their magic to make the project a local one. They pulled Steel Yard into the mix and asked them if they could make the stands at a price comparable to other providers the city was considering. Steel Yard won the contract to build the bike repair stands and the project stayed local.

    On May 16, Bike to Work Day, Mayor Angel Taveras dedicated three bike repair stands located in Burnside Park, Roger Williams Park and Riverside Park. At the dedication, Mayor Taveras said, “Creating the necessary infrastructure for bicyclists will help Providence support another viable, affordable and healthy transportation choice for our residents.”

    Each stand can inflate a tire and also has tethered in a protective box all the tools you’d need to do anything from making minor adjustments to the seat to tweaking the brakes. The stand itself can hold a bike upside down to make repairs much easier than they’d be if you had to balance it on the street or work on it upright. Bicycle commuting suddenly sounds a lot more practical, right?

    The city plans to install more bicycle repair stands in the coming years. “Not only is biking a healthier alternative than driving, but I think the economic downturn in Rhode Island made people look at ways they could save money,” said Jackson Morley of Steel Yard. And bicycling to work or around town certainly saves gas money. “Providence is doing a lot to promote biking, like creating bike lanes, and the city is working to make the streets even more bicycle friendly,” continued Morley. “Now we just have to educate people on sharing the road.”

    So keep an eye out, drivers — these new repair stands might encourage even more cyclists to hit the streets. Or better yet? Leave your car in the driveway and join them!

  • Rally for Peace — Ending Violence in Providence Communities

    Rally for Peace — Ending Violence in Providence Communities

    TAPA Rally for Peace-1Avi David is a member of the Extraordinary Rendition Band and a music teacher at Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts (TAPA), a school for 7th through 10th graders located a block away from last week’s shooting that resulted in the death of 20-year-old Davon Taylor. Taylor’s 15-year-old sister, Destiny, a former student at TAPA, was also injured in the shooting and remains hospitalized.

    This latest violent act hit especially close to home for David’s students and they were eager to take action. David put out a call to supportive members of the community, musicians and activists to help his students turn their fear and grief into something positive. On Thursday, May 22, the Rally for Peace will take place to bring issues of gun, gang and youth violence to the forefront of community attention.

    “Youth are the ones who are affected the most by community violence,” David said. “And this rally has largely been driven by young people who want to see changes take place in their neighborhoods.”

    Teema Garpue, a sophomore at TAPA, said of her neighborhood, “People are afraid to go outside.” Her hope is that the Rally for Peace will show members of her community that despite their fear, people can come together to take positive action in their streets. “We can’t let something like this take away our freedom,” she said. “Let’s make this the last violent death. We want a little bit of peace.”

    Jaymi Cepeda, also a sophomore at TAPA, said that even though gun violence sparked this rally, guns aren’t the focus. “Bad things are going to happen in our neighborhood and we want to react to them by showing peace, harmony and community,” she said.

    “We’re not coming out with a proposal for new gun legislation,” said David. “We’re just hoping to light a spark in the community so that politicians and community members will start talking about changing the ways we think about guns and community and how we relate to each other.”

    The Rally for Peace will wind through the West End neighborhood, stopping on Wendell Street, where the recent homicide occurred, to honor victims of violence. Students displaying signs and playing bucket drums will be joined by the Extraordinary Rendition Band and the What Cheer? Brigade. “We’re going to play songs that make people think of peace,” said Cepeda. “We Shall Overcome” and “This Little Light of Mine” are two planned songs that illustrate what the rally is all about.

    Garpue and Cepeda both have high hopes for an end to the violence in their community. “We have to change the world rather than wait for others to do it,” said Cepeda. “And it only takes one person to change the whole community.”
    A whole lot more than one person will come out to change the community at the Rally for Peace on May 22 from 5 until 7pm. Community members and activists are asked to meet at the steps of the Cranston Street Armory on Parade Street, and the rally will travel through the West End neighborhood with a brief stop on Wendell Street. For more information about the event, visit the event’s Facebook page:  facebook.com/events/668735656515082/

  • PRD’s Travel Teams Are Lacing Up for Competition

    By Crimson Al-Khemia

    Beautiful and brutal, they are the Providence Roller Derby’s all-star teams: The Rhode Island Riveters, The Killah Bees and The Rocky Point Rollers!

    On May 31, roller derby moves to the William H. Thayer Arena in Warwick.  A double bout will feature the Riveters going skate to skate against the Gainesville Roller Rebels. Then stay for The Rocky Point Rollers versus the Worcester Warriors!

    If you’re in the Philadelphia area between June 20 and 22, get your tickets now for the biggest roller derby tournament on the coast, the 2014 East Coast Derby Extravaganza! PRD will be representing in two big bouts. The Riveters will go up against the Crime City Rollers, and then move on to battle the Tiger Bay Brawlers! For those tickets, visit: ecdx.phillyrollergirls.com.

    The Riveters will be returning home to Thayer Arena on June 28 to take to the track against Lehigh Valley Rollergirls. In the same night, the Rocky Point Rollers will face off with the Mass Attack Roller Derby All-Stars!

    And closing out the travel team season, at Thayer Arena on July 19, the visiting Hartford Wailers will go skate-to-skate with RI’s Killah Bees! Also starting that night will be the first game in PRD’s home season (teams to be announced).

    Tickets and times are available at providencerollerderby.com

  • Pin-up of the month: Tracy Mclaughlin

    Pin-up of the month: Tracy Mclaughlin

    pinupfullDo you have a nickname? Trace
    What’s your profession? I’m a makeup artist.
    What’s your favorite movie? The Big Lebowski
    What’s your favorite quote? “A li’l paint makes you the woman you ain’t.”
    Beer cocktails: love ’em or hate ’em? I love beer and oj. It’s a man-mosa!
    Earth Day is coming! What do you do to be green? I always bring reusable totes when I shop.
    Finish this sentence: April showers bring… Cute rain boots and umbrellas!
    Tell us a secret! I love to play old Nintendo video games.

  • Faith and Forgiveness Highlight A Bright New Boise

    Faith and Forgiveness Highlight A Bright New Boise

    The themes of faith and forgiveness intertwine in the darkly comic A Bright New Boise, which opened in previews on February 28, March 1, and March 2 and runs until March 30 at Warren’s 2nd Story Theatre.

    Will (Nathanael Lee), a refugee from a controversial church, has just been hired at the Hobby Lobby, a nondescript big-box store in Idaho. The play’s action takes place in the store’s drab break room, where the employees gather for small-talk and use as a sanctuary from the rest of the world. Pauline (Suzy Bowen-Powers) is the no-nonsense store manager who is continually exasperated with the fights breaking out among her subordinates. Pauline introduces Will to fellow employee Alex (Patrick Saunders), who turns out to be the son he gave up a long time ago. Father and son endure a strained reunion as Alex continually threatens to kill himself. However, Will is able to briefly connect with his son through their shared affection for music. Will also forms a bond with Anna (Tray Gearing), a devout Christian who discovers Will is writing an online novel about the end of the world. Another co-worker, Leroy (James Lucey) wears T-shirts featuring obscene slogans and fears Will will convert Alex to his brand of Christianity. The focus of the story is Will’s handling of a tragic event from his past, as well as his continued effort to become a part of Alex’s life after being away for so long. A Bright New Boise was directed by Mark Peckham, from a script by Samuel D. Hunter.

    Peckham knows how to get the most out of his actors. Lee is haunting as Will expresses his contempt for the ugliness of modern society with its corporate homogeneity. Saunders is dynamic as the troubled Alex and has a challenging scene late in the play – a moment made up entirely of physical body language and facial expressionism. It is heart-wrenching to witness. Bowen-Powers, Gearing, and Lucey also bring a lot of fire to their characters. Their interactions are sometimes uncomfortable to watch, but are always riveting. Hunter has crafted a story about desperate people searching for meaning in their fractured existences. The deeper message is our common desire for fulfillment in a world filled with gloom.

    Performances: March 6 – March 30 – Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00pm; Sundays at 3pm; Additional Performance: Sunday, March 9 at 7pm

  • The Past, Present and Future of Beer and Breweries

    The Past, Present and Future of Beer and Breweries

    Inspired by the classic Dickens tale, our beer reporters set off on separate journeys through time to learn about their favorite beverage.

    Read about Pete’s trip through time and space to learn about beer here: motifri.com/beerfuturepete

    Read about a colorful trio of barflys who taught Chris about breweries old and new here: motifri.com/beerfuturechris